Foursquare in the UAE

Foursqaure the location based application which lets users check in to their favorite places is definitely growing worldwide, but don’t count out Foursqaure from the MENA region. I recently downloaded the application which is available on almost all platforms and I was amazed to see the number of users from Dubai all competing for badges and points (these are unlocked with more check ins). Still new to the application, but I can’t stop from checking in everytime I go out and try to become a Mayor of all the places I visit.

To become a Mayor of a specific place you need to basically check in more than other users, Mayorships are based on the most *days* with check-ins in the past 60 days (so 2 check-ins to the same place in one day just count 1x). however if another foursquare user comes along and has checked in more days than you, they will steal the “Mayor” title back from you. Also a very important point which I recently learned was that in order to be eligible for Mayorships you have to upload a profile image so keep that in mind.

Now how all of this fits in is when I saw a special offer from 2 restaurants here in Dubai on Foursquare, Jdoudna the Lebanese restaurant and Burger Fuel in JBR were offering discounts up to 50% on Foursquare for the Mayor’s of those restaurants.

Now if you think that is interesting it doesn’t end there, when I clicked to check in to Jdoudna a screen popped up saying that since you’re near by you should visit this “other” nearby restaurant with a tip written from a friend on my foursquare list suggesting that a certain dish there was “Awesome”!

This is exactly how mobile/social marketing in the next coming year should be and I foresee a lot of people to start utilizing such applications and methods, Last year Foursquare jumped to 100 Million check ins in the USA proof that it works, it will just take a while for Foursquare to become stronger in the MENA region. But as a marketer and a consumer I don’t see why not, because I can check out new places, read tips from friends on where I should or should not go and start competing with other users to get more badges. Its fun, local and feels like you’re participating in a game, a “social game” really around the city with your friends.

So if you’re on Foursqaure and in Dubai add me and lets start checking in.

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Having worked with top digital agencies in the MENA region for the past several of years I'm now looking now to venture on my own with small side projects in online, social and mobile.
Things I like include: gaming, sports, technology, social media, start ups, funny things and reading about new bright ideas.